The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-05-13

find Mr.. johnson. Nor did he find
anyone else connected with the firm.
The door leading to the offices was
locked, and card neatly tackled there.
on, bearing the inscription:
"On the Continent for an indefinite
time"
Upon reading this announcement
Mr.. Levi burst into the next Office with
such sudden violence that the clerks
jumped from their stools in dismay.
Here he learned, in answer to his al
most inarticulate inquiries, that the
offices of johnson & Co. had been
closed for rather more than a week.
Upon arriving again in James street,
Mr.. Levi was in state of sntagonized
rage and excitement battling descrip-
tion. He was singularly choleric old
gentleman, and threw himself into his
chair, flinging his hat upon the ground.
"We have been swindled !" he almost
shouted, excitedly, "swindled !"
"Swindled !" echoed the &C.,"
family.
Mr.. Dorrell sat for few minutes
pale and silent; but in all firms of two
or more partners there is usually one
who talks and one who acts, and in
this firm Mr.. Dorrell was always the
one who acted.
"We had better send for Bolton" he
said at last, and Bolton, the celebrated
detective, was sent for. Bolton said
little, but listened gravely and respect
fully to Mr.. Dorrell's calm statements
and with seeming sympathy to Mr..
Lewis incoherent rawlings. Mr.. Skimp
lneekly ventured the remark that ''he
hadn't thought much of johnson from
the first" which irritating remark was
repaid by the senior partner with a
whitening glance at Skimp which
caused that worthy to subside at once
into his corner.
All the documents were produced
and most carefully examined by Bolton.
The detective--after the manner of
his kind-looked inscrutable, and said
very little.
The affair was placed entirely in his
hands and after some days inquiry the
firm of Levi &c Co. found that it had
been very successfully swindled, all
.he documents being forgeries. Mr..
Lewis check had been cashed on the
day it was received--all in Bank of
England notes, none of which had been
passed or changed in Liverpool. The
inference was that Mr.. johnson had
taken them with him to London. with
the intention of changing them into
gold. 1t was for this purpose, Mr..
Bolton said, that the previously men
toned iron-bound box had been hon.
ored by the thoughtful and accom-
plished Mr.. johnson 100000 in gold
being, as the detective dryly remarked,
rather an awkward sum to carry on the
person.) 1t was also ascertained that
Mr.. Johnson had left his rooms more
tt an a week ago, at a late hour in the
evening, and that gentleman answer
ing his description had on that same
evening taken the night express for
London. Upon hearing these details
Mr.. Levi delivered himself of some
fine Hebrew expletives.
"But how" said Mr.. Dorrell, "did
he get Pinero's signature to copy 7"
"a simple NATTER" replied the de-
tective. "He has had some small ship
ping transactions with Pinero & Co.
before, which enabled him to possess
himself Of one or two of their forms
of bills of lading. This plot was not
hatched in few days.
"The scoundie ell !" stormed Mr.. Levi
with several strong and effective OBJ.
jectives-"Ill trace him, I'll hunt him
down, if spend every penny have
in the world. Find him, Bolton, and
| I'll make your fortune"
Mr.. Bolton did his best, and it was
usually very good "best." He traced
him first to London, thence to Paris,
then to Irun, and thus across the Span
ish frontier, beyond which it was, OF
course, useless to follow HIM. The
celebrated detective therefore returned
to Liverpool baffied and considerably
crestfallen, aud presented himself once
again in Levi & Co.'S office, and with
unwelcome tidings.
"Follow him through Spain, drag
him back by force-drag him to the
dock - almost screamed Mr.. Levi.
"Dock y echoed Mr.. Skimp family
| Mr.. Dorrell and Mr.. Bolton, between
them evolved subtler plan, which wal
finally adopted.
"Spare no expense were Mr.. Dor
rell's last words to the detective. "We
give you carte blanche-but bring hin
back with you"
81 will do my BEST said Mr.. Bolton
and he bowed himself ou..
Two men were lounging one ho
August evening on the veranda of The
Fonda Alameda at Malaga. Both
were smoking, and from their conver
sation they were evidently recent ao
quaintances.
"Yes," the elder of the two mer
was saying, with strong American
twang, "rm travelling for pleasure
I've made pretty tall sum in mining
and / mean to enjoy myself. l Intend
running pretty well over Europe dur
ing the next month. l don't take sud
den tancies now, as rule he went
on, shut I've taken fancy to you. l
like your sort What did you say
your name was?"
81 didn't say" answered the other
in clear, high bred tones, "but my
name is Frederick Steyne."
"Thank you. My name is Kemp
Josiah Washington Kemp-st youl
service. Here's my card. You are an
Englishman, ! calculate 7"
"Yes. You are an American, pre-
sumo 7"
"That's 20" returned the other, stick
ing his thumbs in the armholes of his
waistcoat -" Josiah Washington
Kemp, of New York city, United
States. ] guess you are travelling for
pleasure, too, Mr., Steyne'"
"Well-no," said the person ad
dressed, carefully selecting a fresh
cigar; 81 am only here on little mat
ter of business. A relative of mine -
an uncle, in faot-died here lately and
left me small fortune. thought oi
starting business, either here or il
| Seyillar y nd Mr. Stavna'a hlua ayas